What is the story behind The Greatest Wedding Ever Donated? We asked Tiffany and Caleb to explain it in their own words for theWoodSnapblog.

Tiffany Au, 27, and Caleb Remington, 27, grew up 20 minutes away from each other in small suburbs of Chicago but met out in California at the age of 24. Their intense romance is rooted in love for their community and their drive to create open and honest conversations. With no surprise to family and friends, they are magnifying that passion with a twist on how they say “I do.”

Marriage is physical; our intentions are our true bond. Being crafters of love and committing to share this art with the world, we are putting on The Greatest Wedding Ever Donated, a charity fundraiser and benefit concert in place of our wedding! We have partnered up with CW Jane the Virgin Actor and philanthropist, Justin Baldoni, his team at The Wayfarer Entertainment, and The Wayfarer Foundation (our fiscal sponsor) to put on The Greatest Wedding Ever Donated Gala and Benefit Concert to raise $500,000 and awareness for 5 different cause areas that we are personally touched by mental health, rare disease, research, education, and low-income families. The event will take place on May 5th at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. The Gala will consist of live performances, keynote speakers for each cause area, silent auction, raffles, food and beverage, and more! A live Benefit Concert will proceed the charity event in the Theater open up to the general public, our “wedding crashers.”

The day we met each other, our conversations were not so much about our favorite colors and movies, but how we both overcome adversities in life. Volunteerism and community saved my (Tiffany) life from severe depression, anxiety, and years of sexual assault. It gave me purpose and a platform to share my story and help those who were struggling with similar traumatic experiences. I (Caleb), was diagnosed with a genetic condition called cystic fibrosis and there is currently no cure. Despite being sick every day, I chose to live a life of positivity and optimism. Outside of a healthy mindset, we would not be alive without the advanced medicine, support, or encouragement created by organizations like Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

We wanted to create our special day as a tribute to the community members that kept us both ALIVE and spotlight the incredible humans who have constantly reminded us that our disability is not what defines us, it is what challenges us to become stronger and more resilient. Outside of fusing philanthropy and the $76 billion wedding industry, we hope to utilize the attendance, messaging, and overall platform of this special "big day" to create an open dialogue, deep reflection, and stripped conversations as a practice in building long-lasting relationships with your significant other.